Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 176 -

Torches lit the night as men gathered at the forest entrance.

Mo Ying tightened his grip on the reins.

"Open the path," he ordered.

Fuhan stepped beside him. "We’ll split into teams."

Yan Mei clutched her sleeves, voice shaking. "Please... please find them."

The Crown Prince arrived, calm but tense.

"Lin Xu is still inside?" he asked quietly.

Mo Ying nodded once. "Yes."

The Crown Prince’s gaze turned sharp.

"Then we go. Now."

The soldiers raised their torches. The forest glowed in red and gold.

Mo Ying whispered under his breath,

"Lin Xu... wait for me."

And they rode in.

Inside the forest...

"Move!" one maid shouted.

Lin Xu and San Na were dragged through the trees.

San Na hissed in pain. "Let go!"

Chu Ming followed slowly, smiling.

"Careful," she said sweetly. "We don’t want them to die too early."

Lin Xu glared. "You call this courage? Attacking injured people?"

Chu Ming’s lips curved. "Courage is not needed... when one has power."

One maid pointed ahead.

"Miss Chu. The snake pit."

The ground opened into a dark rocky hole. It was deep. Cold. Silent.

San Na went pale.

"...You’re insane."

Chu Ming’s voice was soft.

"Snakes don’t leave bodies behind. Perfect, isn’t it?"

She stepped closer to Lin Xu.

"Say goodbye."

Lin Xu stared back steady and fearless.

"You will regret this."

Chu Ming leaned in.

"Not today."

She raised her hand.

"Throw them."

At the same time...

Mo Ying stopped suddenly.

"Did you hear that?"

Fuhan nodded. "A woman’s voice."

They pushed forward.

The Crown Prince spoke quietly.

"Faster."

Torches burned brighter.

Leaves shook. Branches cracked.

They were getting closer.

Meanwhile, Back at the pit the maids grabbed Lin Xu.

San Na struggled. "Don’t touch her!"

Chu Ming laughed.

"How touching. You finally sound like friends."

Lin Xu grit her teeth. "San Na. Stay calm."

San Na swallowed. "...Idiot. I’m not scared."

But her hands shook.

Chu Ming lifted her hand again.

"Now."

The maids dragged them forward.

Closer.

Closer.

Darkness below them.

San Na whispered,

"...Lin Xu."

Lin Xu replied softly,

"I’m here."

Then—

CRACK—!

Branches snapped.

Footsteps. Voices.

Torches.

Chu Ming’s eyes widened.

"...No."

San Na turned.

Mo Ying burst through the trees, sword drawn.

"LIN XU!"

The Crown Prince appeared beside him, cold fury in his gaze.

Chu Ming froze.

Lin Xu finally smiled.

"You’re late."

Mo Ying exhaled just once like he had been holding his breath for hours.

Chu Ming stared at the men in shock.

Then her eyes filled with rage.

"No... no! You can’t ruin this!"

Lin Xu felt danger before it happened.

"San Na—!"

Chu Ming screamed and rushed forward.

"I won’t lose to you!"

She shoved both of them with all her strength.

Lin Xu and San Na slipped—

"Ah—!"

The ground vanished beneath them.

They fell—

But both grabbed a thick branch at the edge of the pit.

Their bodies dangled over darkness.

Poisonous snakes hissed below.

San Na gasped. "Don’t look down!"

Lin Xu held the branch tight, teeth clenched. "I wasn’t planning to!"

Their hands shook.

The branch creaked.

Chu Ming laughed wildly. "Yes! Fall! Fall already!"

She moved to stomp Lin Xu’s fingers—

But a hand grabbed her wrist.

Fuhan.

His voice was ice. "Enough."

Guards swarmed in.

Two maids tried to run.

"Catch them," the Crown Prince ordered calmly.

Soldiers pinned them to the ground.

Chu Ming screamed. "Let go of me! I said LET GO!"

Mo Ying didn’t even look at her.

He was already running toward the pit.

"Lin Xu!"

The Crown Prince came beside him. "Help San Na first. I’ll hold the branch."

They slid to the edge.

Lin Xu forced a weak smile. "You took your time."

Mo Ying’s voice shook. "Stop talking and give me your hand."

The Crown Prince leaned forward, gripping the branch with one hand, reaching for San Na with the other.

"Take it," he said quietly.

San Na hesitated as she stared back at Lin xu and mo ying. He washd husband yet he went to save her first.

Lin Xu’s hand slipped.

"Ah—!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Mo Ying caught her wrist instantly.

"I’ve got you."

Lin Xu stared up at him.

"...You always do."

Snakes hissed louder below.

The Crown Prince still waiting for San Na to hbdov her hands, Ashe groaned, "What are you waiting for,take my hands."

But she sik didn’t Ashe thought clouded her thinking.

’wouldn’t it be better than I died here..’ she whispered softly as she then gaethe crown prince one soft look, her eyes flushed across his, filled with so much pain. As she let go of the branch.

Mo Ying shouted,

"SAN NA!"

Lin Xu’s eyes widened.

"San Na!"

San Na let go.

Mo Ying reached out, but she slipped past.

Lin Xu yelled,

"No!"

She released Mo Ying’s hand and swung down, grabbing San Na’s wrist with her right hand while her left clung to the branch.

San Na gasped, shocked.

"Lin Xu! Let go! Are you crazy!?"

Lin Xu gritted her teeth.

"Shut up! Hold on!"

San Na shook her head.

"No! I said let go! I don’t want to live anymore!"

Lin Xu snapped,

"Too bad! I’m not letting you die!"

San Na’s voice cracked,

"Why!? Why won’t you just leave me!?"

Lin Xu growled,

"Because you’re my friend, idiot!"

San Na shouted back, tears in her eyes,

"I’m not your friend! I hate you!"

Lin Xu glared at her.

"Yeah? Well I hate you too!"

They both shook, the branch creaking.

San Na whispered weakly,

"Then... let me go..."

Lin Xu’s voice softened.

"No."

San Na bit her lip.

"...Why?"

Lin Xu took a breath.

"Because your life still matters."

San Na went silent.

Lin Xu continued, voice firm,

"If you don’t want to live for yourself... then live for your son."

San Na froze.

Lin Xu’s tone turned gentle.

"Mo Sheng is still small. He needs his mother."

Tears spilled from San Na’s eyes.

"...He’ll be fine without me."

Lin Xu snapped again,

"The father may be trash but your son isn’t!"

San Na trembled.

Lin Xu’s voice shook now too.

"Don’t leave him alone. Don’t make him grow up without you."

San Na cried softly.

"...I’m tired..."

Lin Xu tightened her grip.

"Then lean on me."

San Na stared up at her.

Lin Xu forced a small smile.

"I won’t let you fall."

Above them, Mo Ying shouted, desperate,

"Hold on! We’re pulling you up!"

The Crown Prince added calmly,

"Don’t let go. We’re here."

San Na whispered, voice breaking,

"Lin Xu..."

Lin Xu answered softly,

"I’m here."

And she didn’t let go.

---

Mo Ying and the Crown Prince finally managed to pull both women safely back up from the pit.

Lin Xu didn’t even think twice she pulled San Na into a tight hug, her voice shaking as she whispered, "Don’t ever do that again... you scared me." San Na’s eyes filled with tears as she whispered back, "I... I’m sorry."

Mo Ying exhaled deeply, relief softening his usually cold eyes. The Crown Prince glanced at him, and the two men shared a silent look both grateful the women were alive.

When horses were brought over, Lin Xu insisted gently, "Prepare one for San Na. She’ll ride separately." She smiled a little and added, "I’ll be fine." Mo Ying frowned slightly but didn’t force her, only replying, "Very well."

They left the forest slowly. Chu Ming was dragged along, screaming, "Let me go! I didn’t do anything!" but Fuhan only said coldly, "Keep moving." Her maids cried behind her.

When they reached the camp, everyone had already gathered, nobles, guards, attendants, even Noble Consort Su. Torches burned brightly, lighting up the night.

Mo Ying dismounted first, saying quietly, "Careful," as he helped Lin Xu down. The Crown Prince also stepped forward, steady and controlled, helping San Na before Mo Ying simply lifted her into his arms. San Na flushed but said nothing.

Fuhan shoved Chu Ming forward and she fell to the ground, crying desperately, "Aunt! Please... save me!" She looked straight at Noble Consort Su with panic in her eyes. But Noble Consort Su simply lifted her chin slightly and replied in a calm, distant voice, "I do not understand what you are saying."

Chu Ming stared at her in disbelief.

"...Aunt?"

The Crown Prince spoke then, voice cold and firm:

"Take them away."

Chu Ming screamed as the guards dragged her back. Her maids begged for mercy, but no one helped them.

Yan Mei hurried to Lin Xu, eyes red as she whispered, "Thank heavens... you’re safe." Lin Xu gave a tired but gentle smile.

"I’m back."

Mo Ying looked at her quietly and said, softer than usual,

"Rest now. Everything else can wait."

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement.

"Yes. That is enough for tonight."

And finally... the camp could breathe again.

Lin xu turned and saw Mo Ying taking San Na back to their tent with her hands wrapped all over his neck.

"Don’t they look good together?" Lin xu asked Yan mei who looked at them then at Lin xu before nodding softly.. "I guess so."